August 28, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) has welcomed efforts exerted by opposition parties participating in the national dialogue to convince those who refuse the process to join it.

In statements to Ashorooq TV on Thursday Mustafa Osman Ismail, NCP political secretary, praised the contacts conducted by the Popular Congress Party (PCP) and the Reform Now Movement (RNM) to persuade the opposition parties and rebel groups to join the internal process aiming to achieve peace and democratic reforms in Sudan.

Ismail further reaffirmed the NCP’s commitment to fully implement a roadmap for the national dialogue reached with the opposition parties earlier this month.

Mustafa remarks come after statements by the PCP which disclosed contacts with the rebel and political forces to convince them to join the process, saying it represents the best alternative to settle the current crises in Sudan.

On the other hand, the opposition parties participating in the national dialogue formed a committee to contact the rebels and political parties.

The meeting held at the PCP premises in Khartoum also set up different committee to prepare joint positions on the agenda of the dialogue.

While the political forces ask to end war and release political freedoms, the rebels demand a comprehensive cessation of hostilities and talks over the war affected regions before to join the process.

The government and the political forces participating in the dialogue signed a framework agreement on 9 August. The roadmap determines the attributions of the of the supreme coordination committee known as (7+7 committee), the General Conference, the sub-committees, the agenda of the dialogue and how to implement the outcome of the national dialogue.

The government and the opposition parties also agreed to set up an executive mechanism to implement the outcome of this dialogue, but did not provide clearly the formation of a national unity government or to postpone the 2015 election.

MAHDI’S RETURN

The leader of the National Umma Party (NUP), Sadiq al-Mahdi, is in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, since the signing of the Paris Declaration with the rebel alliance of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) on 8 August.

His daughter and deputy NUP chairman, Mariam al-Mahdi is held by the security service without any charge after her return to the country over it participation in the talks with the rebel groups.

Samia Ahmed Mohamd, a deputy speaker of the National Assembly and NCP leading member, on Thursday said that al-Mahdi can return to the country and participate in the internal dialogue.

Mohamed also minimised the Paris Declaration saying “they do not represent any threat”.

She further ruled out that the Democratic Unionist Party of Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani suspend its participation in the national dialogue.

Al-Mirghani met recently in London with a SRF delegation that briefed him on the outcome of Paris Declaration.

(ST)

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